Comparison of effects of leptin and ghrelin on porcine ovarian granulosa cells

The aim of our studies was to compare the roles of leptin and ghrelin in the direct control of proliferation, apoptosis, and secretory activity by porcine ovarian cells. In our in vitro experiments, we analyzed the effects of leptin and ghrelin treatments (at 0, 1, 10, or 100 ng/mL medium) on the accumulation of proliferation-related peptides (PCNA, cyclin B1, MAP kinase [MAPK]) and apoptosis-associated peptides (Bax, caspase 3, p53), and on progesterone secretion by cultured porcine granulosa cells, using immunocytochemistry, SDS PAGE-Western immunoblotting, and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Leptin stimulated proliferation (PCNA, cyclin B1, MAPK), apoptosis (Bax, p53), and progesterone secretion. Ghrelin promoted proliferation (PCNA, cyclin B1, MAPK) and progesterone secretion but suppressed apoptosis (Bax, caspase 3, p53). These observations suggest that both leptin and ghrelin directly control proliferation, apoptosis, and secretory activity by porcine ovarian cells. At the level of the ovary, in contrast to the hypothalamo-hypophysial system, leptin and ghrelin may have similar action in promoting granulosa cell proliferation and progesterone secretion, but they may be antagonistic to one another (leptin, stimulator; ghrelin, inhibitor) in controlling apoptosis.     

Effects of 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine on hormone secretion and epigenetic regulation in sika deer ovarian granulosa cells

5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC), an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferases, is an effective treatment for various cancers and has improved the development rate of cloned embryos. Previous studies have reported the effect of 5-Aza-dC on fibroblasts; however, the mechanism whereby 5-Aza-dC affects sika deer granulosa cells and hormone secretion is presently unknown. Here, we showed that the cell cycle after treatment with different doses of 5-Aza-dC was significantly altered. The number of cells in the S phase was significantly increased in response to a concentration of 0.1 μM 5-Aza-dC. The rate of apoptosis was increased when cells were treated with 0.1 μM and 5 μM 5-Aza-dC. We showed that the protein level of H3K9me2 was significantly decreased in response to 5-Aza-dC. The activity levels of DNA methyltransferase were reduced by a moderate dose of 5-Aza-dC. Furthermore, the secretion of E₂ and P₄ was influenced by different doses of 5-Aza-dC. Our study suggested that 5-Aza-dC affected hormone secretion in sika deer granulosa cells through cell development and epigenetic regulation. The findings of this study lay the foundation for further epigenetic studies in sika deer.     

miR-1307在猪卵巢颗粒细胞周期中的作用

为了解猪miR-1307序列和结构特征,阐明其在猪卵巢颗粒细胞周期中的作用,利用生物信息学方法分析猪miR-1307的序列特征、染色体定位和潜在的生物学功能;在体外培养的猪卵巢颗粒细胞中转染miR-1307模拟物(mimics)和抑制剂(inhibitor),利用流式细胞术检测细胞周期。结果显示:猪miR-1307前体序列长度为80 bp,其核苷酸序列(包括成熟序列和种子序列)和基因组定位等与哺乳动物其他物种高度一致;功能富集分析发现miR-1307靶基因富集在rRNA分解代谢进程和蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶活性等多个重要的生物学进程和分子功能中;在猪卵巢颗粒细胞中,过表达miR-1307可使G0/G1期细胞比例增加,S期细胞比例显著降低(P<0.05);抑制miR-1307可使G0/G1期细胞比例降低,S期细胞比例显著增加(P<0.05)。结果表明:miR-1307是猪卵巢颗粒细胞周期的重要调节因子。     

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone inhibition of LH stimulated progesterone secretion by porcine granulosa cells in vitro

GnRH has several direct actions on rat granulosa cells. Specific receptors for GnRH have been demonstrated on rat and human ovaries. Whether the porcine ovary has specific receptors for GnRH is still debated and the physiological actions of GnRH on porcine granulosa cells have not yet been clarified. Consequently, we have examined the actions of a GnRH agonist (GnRHa) on basal and LH stimulated progesterone secretion by porcine granulosa cells. GnRHa inhibited both basal and LH stimulated progesterone secretion by granulosa cells from medium (3-5 mm) and large (6-10 mm) antral follicles during 3 day incubations. LH stimulated progesterone secretion was more sensitive to inhibition than basal progesterone secretion. Studies on the time course for GnRHa inhibition of progesterone secretion indicated that the decrease in progesterone secretion occurred 48 to 72 hr after first exposure to GnRHa. Earlier inhibition occurred in only a fraction of the experiments. GnRHa did not have to be present during the time when inhibition occurred. Incubations of 2 days with GnRHa were just as effective as 3 day incubations at inhibiting progesterone secretion on day 3. Furthermore, a 30 min exposure to GnRHa on day 1 was just as inhibitory as a full 2 day incubation with GnRHa in inhibiting LH stimulated progesterone secretion on day 3. Incubation of the cells for 3 days prior to exposure of the cells to GnRHa did not alter the time course for GnRHa action. GnRHa did not alter the DNA content of the cultures in up to 6 day incubations or the number of viable cells attached to the wells in up to 3 day incubations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The reproductive performance of anoestrous dairy cows following treatment with progesterone and oestradiol prior to the start of mating

Aims: To determine the reproductive performance of cows diagnosed as anoestrus prior to the planned start of mating (PSM) when they were either treated when first diagnosed, or left untreated until 16 days after the PSM.

Methods: A clinical trial was conducted during the 1996/97 and 1997/98 breeding seasons involving 823 anoestrous dairy cows in 14 herds. On Day-8 (PSM = Day 0), cows in one group (Treated) were each treated with an intravaginal device containing 1.9 g of progesterone (CIDR).The CIDR device was removed on Day-2, and on Day-1 each cow was injected intramuscularly with 1 mg oestradiol benzoate. Cows in the second group (Control) remained untreated at the time of first examination. All cows detected in oestrus after the PSM were mated by artificial insemination (AI) or a bull. Sixteen days after the PSM, all cows that had not been mated were presented for veterinary examination, and those which were still classified as anoestrus were treated with the previously described CIDR regimen. Pregnancy status and approximate date of conception were determined by palpation per rectum 10-13 weeks after the PSM or 6 weeks after the end of the mating period.

Results: Treatment of anoestrous cows 8 days before the PSM significantly increased the number of cows detected in oestrus (95.0% vs 63.1%;p < 0.001) and conceiving (59.5% vs 38.8%;p < 0.001) during the first 21 days of mating, and reduced the interval from PSM to conception by 7.5 days (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the conception rate of cows mated following the CIDR treatment regimen compared to cows mated at their first spontaneous oestrus after calving (52.4% vs 58.3%; p = 0.143).

Conclusion: Diagnosis and treatment of anoestrous dairy cows prior to the start of mating significantly improves their reproductive performance under the seasonal mating conditions typical of spring-calving New Zealand dairy herds.     

玉米赤霉烯酮对体外培养猪卵巢颗粒细胞的影响

以原代培养的猪卵巢颗粒细胞为模型,设立玉米赤霉烯酮(ZEA)对照组(0.0 mg/L)及高(80.0 mg/L)、中(20.0,40.0mg/L)、低(0.2,2.0mg/L)剂量组,比较不同质量浓度ZEA对体外培养猪卵巢颗粒细胞的影响。形态学观察发现,随着ZEA质量浓度的增加,颗粒细胞呈散在生长,体积缩小变圆,数量减少;高剂量组(80.0mg/L)中,76.96%细胞均已脱壁死亡。MTT法表明,ZEA对卵巢颗粒细胞具有生长抑制作用;免疫荧光结果显示随ZEA质量浓度的增加,细胞凋亡率逐渐升高,高质量浓度组细胞增殖率仅为1.01%;Western blot检测结果显示经ZEA处理,Fas、FasL、FADD、Caspase-10的表达量均明显上调,且存在质量浓度-效应关系。结果表明,ZEA能诱导卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡,并显著上调Fas、FasL、FADD、Caspase-10的表达,可通过死亡受体通路介导卵巢颗粒细胞发生凋亡。     

miR-18a通过靶向结合CTGF调控猪颗粒细胞凋亡

为探究miR-18a对猪卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡的调控作用,利用生物信息学分析、荧光素酶活性检测和体外培养颗粒细胞试验验证miR-18a对CTGF的靶向作用及其在猪颗粒细胞中对CTGF基因表达的影响,并通过流式细胞技术检测其对猪卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡的调控作用。生物信息学分析结果表明,CTGF是miR-18a的潜在靶基因,荧光素酶活性检测进一步验证了miR-18a与CTGF的结合。在培养的颗粒细胞中转染miR-18a模拟物后,qRT-PCR和Western blot结果显示CTGF的mRNA和蛋白水平均显著降低,流式细胞技术检测表明miR-18a显著促进颗粒细胞的凋亡。而转染miR-18a抑制剂后,猪颗粒细胞的凋亡率显著降低,共转染miR-18a抑制剂和CTGF的干扰RNA后,颗粒细胞的凋亡率呈现回升。试验结果表明miR-18a通过靶向结合CTGF基因调控猪颗粒细胞的凋亡。     

水牛卵泡颗粒细胞对卵母细胞体外成熟的影响

为了系统研究颗粒细胞对水牛卵母细胞体外成熟的影响,使用颗粒细胞条件液处理或单层颗粒细胞和卵母细胞共培养的方法,探讨颗粒细胞共培养对水牛卵母细胞体外成熟和早期胚胎发育的影响.结果显示,添加颗粒细胞传代接种第2天收集的20％颗粒细胞条件液到水牛卵母细胞成熟液中能显著提高水牛卵母细胞体外成熟率和囊胚发育率(P＜0.05);然...     

Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone regulate the synthesis mechanism of dihydrotestosterone in sheep granulosa cells

Steroid hormones and receptors play important roles in female reproduction, and their expression patterns affect follicular growth and development. To examine the expression of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) synthases (5α-reductases (5α-red1 and 5α-red2)) and androgen receptor (AR) during follicular development, and the regulation of DHT signalling by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), we have used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting to examine DHT synthesis in small (≤2 mm), medium (2–5 mm) and large (≥5 mm) sheep follicles. Expression of 5α-red1, 5α-red2 and AR was observed in ovine ovaries, and with the development of follicles, the expressions of 5α-red1 and 5α-red2 mRNA and protein increased, but the levels of AR mRNA, protein and DHT level decreased. In addition, granulosa cells were treated with FSH (0.01, 0.1 and 1 international unit (IU)/ml), LH (0.01, 0.1 and 1 IU/ml) and testosterone (T, 10^–7 M) to evaluate the effects of FSH and LH on DHT and oestradiol (E2) synthesis and 5α-red1, 5α-red2 and AR expression. We found that FSH and LH upregulated 5α-red1 and 5α-red2 in sheep granulosa cells, but downregulated the concentration of DHT and expression of AR. Meanwhile, FSH and LH significantly upregulated the expression of aromatase (P450arom) and secretion of E2. This result indicates that although FSH and LH promote the expression of 5α-red1 and 5α-red2, T is not transformed into DHT, but E2. This study reveals the reason why DHT concentration is downregulated in large follicles and lays a foundation for further exploring the synthesis mechanism of DHT during follicular development.     

Effect of ammonia‐generating diet on ovine serum and follicular fluid ammonia and urea levels,serum oestrogen and progesterone concentrations and granulosa cell functions

This study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of ammonia‐generating diet on serum and follicular fluid ammonia and urea levels, serum oestrogen and progesterone concentrations and granulosa cell growth and secretion parameters in ewes (Ovis aries). Ewes were fed with 14% CP diet (control) or ammonia‐generating diet or ammonia‐generating diet plus soluble sugar. The serum and follicular fluid ammonia and urea level, serum oestrogen and progesterone levels and granulosa cell (obtained from ovaries of slaughtered ewes) growth parameters and secretory activities were estimated. Ammonia‐generating diet (high‐protein diet) increased the serum ammonia and urea concentration. Supplementation of soluble sugar significantly reduced the ammonia concentration in serum with comparable levels as in control group; however, the urea level in the same group was higher than that observed in control group. Supplementation of soluble sugar significantly reduced the follicular fluid ammonia concentration; however, the level was significantly higher compared to control group. Supplementation of soluble sugar brought down the follicular fluid urea level comparable to that observed in control group. Oestrogen and progesterone levels remained unchanged in ewes fed with different types of diet. Oestrogen and progesterone secretion were significantly lowered from granulosa cells recovered from ewes fed with high ammonia‐generating diet. Low metabolic activity and high incidence of apoptosis were observed in granulosa cells obtained from ovaries of ewes fed with ammonia‐generating diet.     

T-2毒素对大鼠离体培养卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡的影响

将未成熟的Wistar大鼠卵巢颗粒细胞进行原代培养,用不同浓度的T-2毒素染毒细胞24 h.染毒结束后,采用MTT法检测细胞相对活力,荧光染料Hoechst 33258检测卵巢颗粒细胞的凋亡变化,RT-PCR检测凋亡调控基因Bcl-2、Bax和P53 mRNA的表达.结果显示,随着T-2毒素染毒剂量的增加,颗粒细胞的细胞活力逐渐下降;而细胞凋亡率、Bcb2、Bax、P53 mRNA表达水平、Bax mRNA/Bcl-2 mRNA比值则逐渐上升;除1 nmol/L剂量组外,其余各剂量组与对照组比较差异显著(P＜0.05).结果表明,T-2毒素可显著抑制大鼠卵巢颗粒细胞活力,诱导颗粒细胞凋亡,并呈浓度依赖关系.     

c-jun对体外培养仔猪睾丸间质细胞睾酮分泌的影响

本试验用c-junASODNs诱导c-jun基因发生转录后沉默,探讨原癌基因c-jun对仔猪睾酮分泌的作用及可能机制。以2~3周龄长白仔猪为研究对象,采用体外培养体系,研究c-jun对基础状态下和hCG诱导下间质细胞(Leydig cell,LC)睾酮分泌及基础状态下LC增殖及凋亡的影响。结果显示,c-junASODNs以剂量依赖性方式抑制基础状态下和hCG诱导下睾酮分泌(P0.01)及基础状态下LC增殖(P0.01),当1μmol/Lc-junASODNs时,显著抑制LC的凋亡(P0.05)。结果表明,c-jun在基础状态下还是hCG诱导下均可促进仔猪LC睾酮的分泌,这种作用与c-jun促进LC增殖和凋亡有关。     

The impact of bisphenol S on bovine granulosa and theca cells

Bisphenol S (BPS) is an endocrine‐disrupting chemical with multiple potential mechanisms of action, including as an oestrogen receptor agonist. BPS is increasingly used in plastics and thermal receipts as a substitute for bisphenol A, which has been phased out due to concerns about human health implications. The ability of BPS to alter female reproductive function in mammals has not been widely studied, despite the importance of normal hormone signalling for female reproduction. The aim of this study was to investigate how BPS (in a wide range of doses, including very low doses) affects granulosa cell and theca cell steroid hormone production and cell viability in the bovine. Granulosa cell oestradiol production was stimulated when cells were exposed to 100 μM BPS under basal conditions, but there was no effect of BPS when cells were stimulated with follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH). Additionally, there was no effect of BPS on granulosa cell progesterone production or cell viability under basal or FSH‐stimulated conditions. BPS did not affect theca cell androstenedione or progesterone production, or theca cell viability under basal or luteinizing hormone‐stimulated conditions. This study suggests for the first time that BPS may alter oestradiol production by bovine granulosa cells, albeit at a concentration that is unlikely to be physiologically relevant. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of BPS on the bovine oocyte and on other functions of follicular cells.     

猪外周血树突状细胞的体外培养及鉴定

从猪外周血中分离获得单核细胞,分别加入150μg/L pGM-CSF和100U/mL pIL-4,体外培养6d后诱导出大量树突状细胞（Dendrictic cell,DC）,通过显微镜观察,可见其细胞表面具有典型的树突状突起,呈毛刺状。在培养末期加入TNF-α后可促进DC进一步成熟,其表面高水平表达MHCⅡ、CD80/86和CD16。猪DC的体外获得将为进一步研究许多病毒性疾病的致病机理奠定的基础。     

Relationship between DNA fragmentation of equine granulosa cells and oocyte meiotic competence after in vitro maturation

The acquisition of equine oocyte developmental capacity is ensured by the follicular environment, such as granulosa cells, which could reflect the meiotic development potential of immature oocytes. This study evaluated the relationship between DNA fragmentation of granulosa cells, using the chromatin dispersion test, and equine oocyte meiotic development after in vitro maturation. Granulosa cells and cumulus–oocytes complexes (n = 50) were recovered from slaughterhouse‐derived ovaries. Oocytes were in vitro matured, stained and evaluated under fluorescence microscopy. Maturation rates were classified into outstanding, medium and poor levels of maturation using 25th and 75th percentiles as thresholds. For DNA assessment, each sample was processed with the Ovoselect^® kit (Halotech DNA). High, low and total DNA fragmentation percentages were compared among levels of maturation rates by ANOVA, followed by Duncan test. Results were expressed as mean ± SE. Total and high DNA fragmentation rates of granulosa cells were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in follicles whose oocytes had reached outstanding maturation level than those originating from follicles whose oocytes had reached poor maturation level. In conclusion, the DNA fragmentation analysis of equine granulosa cells can be a valuable test to identify equine oocytes showing the best meiotic competence after in vitro maturation.     

醋酸铅对小鼠卵巢组织结构和卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡的影响

将40只20日龄雌性昆明系小鼠随机分成3个处理组和1个对照组,每组10只。给3个处理组小鼠分别连续2d腹腔按体质量注射醋酸铅10,20,40mg/kg,对照组小鼠注射等体积的生理盐水。于注射后24,72h分离卵巢,用原位末端标记法(TUNEL)测定卵巢颗粒细胞的凋亡率,研究卵巢组织结构及卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡的变化。结果显示,醋酸铅可使小鼠卵巢组织结构发生病变,加速卵巢颗粒细胞的凋亡,且凋亡率随着攻毒剂量的增加和时间的延长而升高,与对照组相比,差异极显著(P0.01);表明醋酸铅对小鼠卵巢具有毒性作用,可诱导卵巢颗粒细胞发生凋亡,并呈现一定的剂量-时间依赖关系。